Wheel-assembling machine



J. T. GARDNER.

WHEEL ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.29, 1918.

1,304,676. Patented May [27, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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Jo/w ZGamrer Witness Inventor Attorney J. T. GARDNER.

WHEEL ASSEMBLING MACHINE. APPLICATION ,rmzn AUG-'23. 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

John 2' ard/rer Inventor Attorney Ya: mum; PETERS co.. Pucmunm.wasunvcmu, u c.

J. T. GARDNER. WHEEL ASSEMBLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.29. I918.

' 1,304,676. Patented May 27, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

7 I I Inventor Tn: NORRIS PEYER: co.. mwmumm, wASHuvcmN. n c.

UNITED STATESHVPATENT oruron.

JOHN T. onrannnaor HAMILTONQOHIO, AssreNonro THE DEFIANCE MACHINE WORKS,or DEFIANCE, OHIO.

WHEEL-ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2'7, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that I, JOHN T. GARDNER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel-AssemblingMachines, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for assembling spokedwooden wheels, and the improvements will be readily understood from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying myimprovements, duplicated parts being omitted:

- Fig. 2 a vertical section of the lower portion of the same, in theplane of line 0 of Fig. 3:

Fig. 3 a plan of the table, parts appearing in horizontal section in theplanes of lines I; and c of Figs. 1 and 2, certain portions being brokenaway:

Fig. 4 a plan of half of a wheel, ready for assembling:

Fig. 5 an elevation of a clamp-hub: and

Fig. 6 an elevation of one of the shims.

A diversity of scales is employed in the drawings. e

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 7 -1, indicatesa half of the felly of such a wooden wheel as is commonly employed inautomobiles, for instance:

2, the spokes tenoned into the felly and making contact at their centralportions on radial lines:

3, the flat faces of the central portions of these spokes:

4, the bore of the'wheel: e

5, a tube, forming a part of a clamp-hub, loosely entering the bore ofthe wheel: and

6, a flange on the lower portion of the tube, this flange, together withanother loose flange and a nut on the tube forming a clamp-hub to engagethe faces at the center of the spokes after the wheel has been forcedinto assemblage.

The felly halves having been produced, and their ends jointed, and thespokes having been produced and formed accurately with their radialjoint surfaces, and having been driven into the felly halves, there arein hand two loose wheel halves. It becomes the duty of thewheel-constructor to assemble these two halves and to compress the fellyradially into a true circle with the radial joints between the spokespressed into forceful contact, and to so hold the central portion of thespokes while a tire is being applied to the felly. -After the Wheel hasbeen assembled, in the manner stated, and while it is still under radialcompression, a clamp-hub, such as is shown in Fig. 5, is applied, andthe nut screwed down tightly, before the assembled wheel is relieved ofits radial compression. After the clamphub is applied then the radialpressure may be removed and the assembled wheel provided with its tire,after which the clamphub, having performed its temporary duty, may beremoved for further use. The present machine has to do with theapplication of the radial pressure to the wheel being assembled and tothe applying of the clamphub thereto.

Continuing with the drawings 7, indicates a sole-plate: Y

8, a table "provided with radial dovetailed slots and having an opencenter margined by a strong ring:

9, legs supporting the table, from the soleplate:

10, a jaw fitted to slide in each of the slots of the table: I

11, the separable inner facing of these jaws:

12, removable shims of various thicknesses which may be placed betweenthe jaws and the facings:

12 studs fixed to the facings and sliding in holes in the jaws the shimsbeing slotted to straddle these studs:

13, a cylindrical stump having its base secured to the sole-plate underthe center of the table, and having its upper end provided withcup-leather packing:

14, a closed-topped cylinder:

15, a series of eye-bolts, one for each of the dovetailed slots in thetable, screwed radially into the central ring of the table andprojecting outwardly beyond the table:

16, a vertical lever pivoted to the outer end of each of theseeye-bolts:

17, a link pivoted to the foot of each of these levers and having itsinner end pivoted between lugs projecting from the base of the cylinder:

. 18, a link pivoted to the upper end of each of the levers and havingits inner end vpivoted in one of the jaws sliding radially on the table:

19, an annular anvil threaded vertically into the center of the table: 2

20, blocks resting on the table, around the anvil, and adapted tosupport the folly of the wheel being assembled:

21, a fixed cylindrical stump rising from the center of the head ofcylinder 14L and provided with cup-leather packing at its upper end:

22, a pin rising from the center of stump 21 and adapted to have thetube of the clamp-hub placed loosely upon it, together with its lowerclamp-flange:

23, a cylinder fitted to slide on the stump 21, and provided withpacking around pin 22, this cylinder being hereinafter termed theauxiliary cylinder: 7

24-, a flexible pipe connecting with the top of the auxiliary cylinder,this pipe being preferably in the form of a hose coiled about theauxiliary cylinder: 7

25, a three-way cock in this pipe:

26, fixed housings rising from the table:

27, across-beam supported by these housmgs:

28, a downwardly open socket-wrench mounted on the lower end of aspindle journaled on the cross-beam and arranged to be turned by powerand arranged to rise and fall:

29, vertical guides, at least three in number, fixedly supported belowthe table around the upper portion of cylinder 14:

30, blocks secured to the upper portion ofthe cylinder 14 and closelyfitting the vertical guides:

31, a pipe communicating with the upper portion of cylinder 14: and

32, a three-way cock in pipe 31.

Assume the jaws to be in their outer position and the cylinders in theirlowermost positions. Blocks 20 are to be of such height as to supportthe felly with its vertical center about in line with the pivots oflinks 18, and the anvil is to be so adjusted as to give proper supportto the inner pontions of the spokes when the folly is resting on theblocks.

The tube of the clamp-hub, together with its lowerfiange, is to beapplied to the pin 22, resting upon the auxiliary cylinder.

Compressed air, or other pressure-fluid, is nowto be admitted tocylinder 14, by manipulating cook 32, whereupon cylinder 14. is forcedupwardly and the jaws forced inwardly, thus radially compressing thewheel-parts being assembled. The application of the pressure-fluid is tobe arrested when a mild degree of contacting pressure has been put onthe radial joints between the inner portions of the spokes. While theinner portions of the spokes may have been faced off they may not beflush with each other, but a little downward driving will bring them alldown nicely upon the anvil, the friction due to the radial pressure thusfar applied being sufiicient to hold the spokes after they have beendriven down. The pressure of the fluid may now be increased, the resultbeing that the inner joints between the spokes are forced intoexceedingly firm contact, even to a point of compression of the wood.This completes the assembling of the wheel parts, ready for thetemporary application of the clamp-hub, so that the assemblage may beremoved from the machine.

When cylinder 14: made its rising stroke, in applying radial pressure tothe wheel, it carried the clamp-hub up with it and may have poked thetube more or less into the central bore of the wheel. Upon thecompletion of the radial pressure then, by manipulating cock 25,pressure-fluid is to be admitted to the auxiliary cylinder, whichcylinder at once rises and carries the clamphub clear up, though notnecessarily pressing its lower flange forcefully against the wheelcenter. The upper flange of the clamp-hub is now to be placed on thetube and the clampnut started on the tube, after which the socket-wrenchis to be lowered upon the nut and set into motion, the result being thatthe two flanges, which are to be circumferentially corrugated upon theirfaces, clamp the sides of the spokes firmly between them so as toprevent the radial retraction of the spokes. The assemblage is nowcomplete and the pressurefluid may be 100 released from each of thecylinders, whereupon both cylinders descend, the pin drawing out of theclamp-hub, and the jaws retreating radially from the wheel. The wheelwith its temporary clamp-hub, may now be 105 removed for subsequenttreatment.

Before starting in to assemble the parts of the wheels of a given lot,the blocks 20 of proper height, are to have been provided, and a properadjustment of the jaws is to 110 have been made to cause the jaws tomove to a circle of proper diameter, which adjustment may be effected byselection of pivotholes in links 18, or by selections of shims 12 ofproper thickness between the jaws and I15 their facings, or both methodsof adjustment may be involved. 7

-While the cylinder 14: is rising on its stump it is guided by thestump, but as the cylinder rises the effective guiding surfaces 120 aseffected by the stump becomes shorter, and the upper portion of thecylinder might be forced more or less sidewise so as to displace thecentral pin; But in the present instance, the guides 29, are active atthe top 125 of the cylinder and continue in their guiding effectthroughout the elevating motion of the cylinder, The adjustment ofblocks 30 per mits of accurate guiding adjustment of the guiding fit, soas to keep the pin central, and 130 so as toavoid side pressure of thecylinder on its cup-leather packing.

I claim 1. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slottedtable with an open center, jaws fitted to slide radially therein, meansfor forcing the jaws simultaneously inward, a vertically adjustableannular anvil supported at the center of the table, a pin disposed inthe axis of the anvil and adapted to support a clamp-hub, and mechanismfor moving the pin and clamp-hub upwardly, combined substantially as setforth.

2. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted table withan open center, jaws fitted to slide radially therein, a cylinder andpiston disposed axially below the table, a lever for each of said jawsand pivoted to the table and linked to the jaws, and links pivoted tothe lower ends of the levers and adapted to be moved outwardly by theaction of fluid-pressure in said cylinder, combined substantially as setforth.

3. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted table withan open center, jaws fitted to slide radially therein, a fixed stumpsecured axially below the table and provided with packing, a cylinderclosed at its top and fitted to slide on the stump, levers pivoted tothe table and having their upper ends connected with the jaws, linkshaving their inner ends pivoted to the cylinder and their outer endspivoted to the lower ends of the levers, and means for controlling theflow of pressure-fluid to the cylinder, combined substantially as setforth.

4. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted table withan open center, jaws fitted to slide radially therein, a fixed stumpsecured axially below the table and provided with packing, a cylinderclosed at its top and fitted to slide on the stump, levers pivoted tothe table and having their upper ends connected with the jaws, linkshaving their inner ends pivoted to the cylinder and their outer endspivoted to the lower ends of the levers, means for controlling the flowof pressure-fluid to the cylinder, and vertical guides disposed belowthe table and cooperating with the .upper part of the cylinder, combinedsubstantially as set forth.

5. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted tablehaving an open center, jaws fitted to slide radially therein, means formoving the jaws inwardly simultaneously, a cylinder and piston disposedaxially below the table, a pin disposed in the axis of the table andadapted to give support to a clamp-nutand to be moved by the pressure offluid acting in said cylinder, and means for controlling the flow offluidpressure to said cylinder, combined substantially as set forth.

6. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted tablehaving an open center, jaws pivoted to slide radially in said table,mechanism for moving the jaws inwardly, a stump disposed axially belowthe table, a cylinder fitted to slide on saidl stump, a second stumpmounted on said cylinder, a pin projecting upwardly from the secondstump, a cylinder fitted to slide on the second stump and pin, aflexible pipe connected with the upper portion of the cylinder, andmeans for controlling the. flow of fluid-pressure in the cylinder,combined substantially as set forth.

7. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted tablehaving an open center, jaws fitted to slide radially in the table,mechanism for moving the jaws inwardly, a pin disposed axially of thetable and adapted to support a clamp-hub, a lifting device for slidingthe clamp-hub upwardly upon the pin, and means for elevating the pin inadvance of the action of the lifting device, combined substantially asset forth. v

8. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted tablehaving an open center, jaws fitted to slide radially on the table, asupport for a clamp-hub at the axis of the table, mechanism forsimultaneously moving the jaws inwardly and elevating the support of theclamp-hub, and means for elevating the support after the jaws have cometo rest, combined substantially as set forth.

9. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a radially slotted tablehaving an open center provided with a marginal ring, jaws fitted toslide radially on the table, eyebolts having their inner ends screwedinto said ring, levers pivoted to the outer ends of the eye-bolts,connections between the jaws and the upper ends of the levers, andmechanism for moving the lower ends of the levers outwardly, combinedsubstantially as set forth.

10. A wheel-assembling machine comprising, a table a jaw fitted to slideradially therein, mechanism for forcing the jaw in wardly, a facing forthe jaw, studs projecting outwardly from the facing and adapted to slidein the jaw, and shims straddling the studs and disposed between the jawand the facing, combined substantially as set forth.

' J OHN- T. GARDNER. Witnesses:

JUs'rUs VOLLBREOHT, HA'r'rm E. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

